Motor-driven lawn-mower.



S. E. BEELER. MoToR DRIVEN LAWN MowEB.

APPLICATION FILED DvEC.29. I9I4.- y $156,520. Patented oct.12,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

S. E. BEELER.

MOTOR DRIVEN LAWN MOWER.

APPLICATION FILED D Ec.29. 1914.

l,,2 Patented IIe-I. 12, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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` APPLICATION FILED 050.29. 1914. 1,1,520 v Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

44 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

dumm?? S. E. BEELER. v MOTOR DRIVEN LAWN MowEH.

1,156,520' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29, 1914. .y Patented 12 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

:Mommy adsense..

. tra s ans retrasar irre.-

sAM/@UEL EDWARD BE'ELEE., 0E waymisnono, PENNSYLVANIA.

Moronfnnrvnn Lawn-noma.'

-i To all whomz't may concern:`

Be it known that LSAMUEL EDWARD BEE- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at ldaynesboro, Franklin county, land State `of Pennsylvania, have invented and *discovered certain new andl useful improvements in Motor-Driven Lawn-Mowers, of

l which the following is a specification.

f rear elevation and partly in cross section as k My said invention consists in various improvements 1n the details of f construction and arrangement of -parts of motor driven lawn inovers of that type wherein the cutting mechanism and the traction mechanism are capable of being driven independently fromv the saine motor, whereby various ad- `vantages are secured in the operation and results, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hei'eof,and on which similar reference characters indicate similar 0n the dotted line 33 in Fig. 1, Fig. i a

.detail top plan of the frontend of the niachine, or cutting apparatus, F ig. 6 a detail topplan of the rear or steeringaxle, Fig. 6 a detail rrsectional view on the dotted line 6 6, of Fig. 1, showing the transmission gear, the friction wheels being indicated by dotted lines, and Fig. 7 a detail view showing the lower end of lever 32 (Fig. l), and the associated connections, in edge elevation. ln said drawings the portions marked A represent the traction wheels, B the steering wheels, C the supporting frame, and M the inotor. 4

The traction wheels are of a type sinif lar to those used on a traction engine, with projecting transverse ribs on their'peripheries.

The wheels B are preferably of substan! tially the saineifdiameter as the traction wheels A, and have circumferential ribs formed thereon.

` The frame C is composed of side bars, or sills, supported at the front end on suitable parts of a transverse bracket 10 which is formed with hollow spindles 11 on each end on which the traction wheels A are mounted. The rear end of said sills C are connected Specification of Letters-Patent. i

by a cross end member C1,wl1ich is sup- `ported by avhorizontal central pivot 12 connected .to the rear axle 13. Said rear axle 13 is of .common type, such as used in traction engines and automobiles, and has spindles 1a pivoted to each end thereof on vertical pivots or shafts 15. Said spindles are formed with right-angle arins 16, the outer ends of which are connected by a rod 17. rthe wheels B are mounted onv said spindles 1t.

tion engine, or any other type of motor found desirable. lTit is supported on the frame C to which it is attached by bolts,` or in any othervappropriate manner.

rile bracket io has teal-ings eo alla ei at fits upper ends in which is` journaled, a countershaft 13, for apurpose Vto` loe presently described.

A transmission gear cage 21, consisting of two substantially duplicate castings bolted j PatentedV (Got. 112, 1215. `tpplication filed December 29, ,1314.v Serial No. 873,561. y

The motor M may be an internal conibustogether and held a distance apart by cross y members 22, is'pivoted on journals 23 ina "bracket or housing' 24;.inounted on frame C, Said housing'has forwardly projecting arms `2i1fwith hearings on countershaft 18, to inf sure proper distance between gear centers, as

will be readily understood. Said cage contains bearings fer the journals of friction Agears 25 and 26 and for the intermediate gear 27. An 'intermediate pinion 28 is also journaled yin appropriate hearings in said cage. Thek friction gears 25 and 26 are in line with and in' close proximity to one Iof 'the dy wheels 29 of the motor and are adapted to be driven thereby. Said cage 21 is connected 4by a rod 30 to the lower end V31 of a lever 32 pivoted at 33 on a standard 3a secured tos the side of a sill of frame C. Said rod eE- tends through a' perforation in theend 31 of said lever 32 and stiff coiled springs 35 are interposed 'between 3nuts or collars 36 on the rod and the opposite sides of said end 31 and serve to cushion the frictional contact.

Short lugs 63 yare formed on the upper end of post 3d between which 'the lever 32 is adapted to rest and be held with the transmission cage 21 in position of no drive. A lug 611 is also formed on the lower side of said post against the rear side of which ics I the lower end 31 of said lever may rest when vset to drive in a foi-ward direction. 64 yis tapered from a thin rear end to a thicker front end and a spring 7 5 is interposed between nut 76 on pivot 33 and the #side of lever 32. By this vineens when lever Lug ' a ion 28. Said gears 37, 27, 38, and 28 are all in mesh and friction gears 25fand 26 are adapted to interchangeably engage and be driven by frictional contact with iy wheel 29. Said intermediate gear 27 meshes with compensating gear 39 on countershaft 18. Said gear 39 drives gear 65 which is fast on shaft 18 in one side, and gear 66 on the other side. Said shaft 18 carries one of the pinions 19 which engages with the gear teeth 20 of one of the traction wheels A, and said gear 66 has a long hub, or sleeve 67, which extends through the bearing in bracket 10 and carries the other pinion 19 on its outer end which meshes with the teeth 20 on the other traction wheel A. Said gearing is thus adapted to transmit motion from the fly wheel of the motor to the traction wheels maybe termed the forward drive friction and the friction wheel 25 the backward drivefriction, and through the manipulation of the lever 32 by the operator, by means of the gearing described, the machine may be driven in either direction atwill, or the transmission cage may be set at neutral, or

u no drive position, and the machine allowed to stand still.

The speed may be regulated by adjusting the frictional contact, as is usual in friction drives. The machine is guided by means of a lever 53 on a steering post 54 which is preferably a continuation of one of the pivots 15 of a spindle 14 of the forward axle 13, said pivot and post being secured to or in piece with said spindle, whereby as said lever is turned the rear wheels are turned to guide the machine as desired. Both of the pivots 15 may be extended and each be provided with a steering lever 53, if preferred.

The cutting mechanism is carried on a frame consisting of arms 40 mounted on the outer ends of the sleeves, or hollow journals 11, of the bracket 10, just outside and adjacent to the hubs of the traction wheels A,

. being secured in position by washers 41, with the sprocket 46 on one end and collar 71 on the other. The forward ends of said bars are provided with bearings in which a trans' reel.

-avoids breakage.

therewith. Asprocketwheel 44 is secured on one end. of shaft 42 and connected by a sprocket chain' 45 with a sprocket wheel 46 on one end of the cutter reel drive shaft 47 which is journaled within the hollow bearlings or sleeves 11 of the bracket 10, and -within the axis of the traction wheels A, and

The other.

extends to outside said sleeve. end has a collar 71 secured thereon by which it is retained in place. The bed knife 48 is mounted on supporting brackets pivoted at 68 and provided with adjusting screws 69, whereby the knife may be adjusted toward or from the mean periphery of the cutter The sprocket chain 45 is preferably inclosed in a casing or guard 70, as is usual. The forward end lof the frame supporting the cutting mechanism is carried upon pilot wheels 52 swiveled in suitable supports. The cutter reel drive shaft 47 is provided with a pulley 49 adapted to be connected by a belt (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2) with a similar pulley 51 alongside the fly wheel 29a on the engine shaft. The belt drive permits slipping, or throwing of the belt when the cutter meets an obstacle and By this means the cutter reel is driven and entirely independent of the traction drive which may be stopped, reversed or slowed down without changing the drive of the cutter reel.

It will be understood that the mechanism above described may be modified in various details without materially modifying the operation of the machine and that such modiications are within the spirit of my invention. For example, the gears within the rims of the traction wheels A may be made in piece with said wheels, or as separate parts secured thereto. The steering mechanism may consist of a single steering lever 53, connected as described, or two levers, or other well known mechanical equivalents for such mechanism. The motor may be of any appropriate type and operated `by any appropriate power generating medium.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:`

1. In a power driven mower the co'mbination of a frame, traction and steering wheels supporting the frame, gear wheels journaled on the fralne and connected to drive the traction wheels, a cage swingingly mounted on the fra-me, a transmissiongearing journaled in said cage and having driving connection with said gear wheels, a motor mounted on the frame. and adapted to have two independent driving connections with said transmission earing, means for swinging the cage to e ect either of said drlvmg connections, and a cutter mechanism having independent driving connection with the motor, substantially as set forth.

2. In a power driven mower the combination of a frame, traction andr steering wheels supporting the frame, gear wheels journaled on the frame and `connected to drive the tractionwheels, a swinging cage fulcrumed co-axially with one of said gear wheels, a transmission gearing journaled in said cage and having constant driving connection with one of' said gear wheels, a motor mounted on the frame and adapted to have two independent driving connections with said transmission gearing, means for swinging the cage to effect either of said motor driving connections, and a cutter mechanism having independent driving connection with the motor, substantially as set forth.

3. In a power driven mower the combination of a frame, traction and steering wheels supporting the frame, a bracket mounted on the frame, a gear wheel journaled on the bracket and connected to drive the traction wheels, a cage fulcrumed on the bracket coaxially with lsaid gear wheel, a transmission gearing journaled in said cage and having constant driving connection with bracket gear wheel, a motor mounted on the frame and adapted to have two independent driving connections with said transmission gearing, means for swinging the cage to effect either or neither of said motor driving connections, and a cutter mechanism having independent drivingconnection with the motor, substantially as set forth.

4. In a power driven mower the combination of a frame, traction and steering wheels supporting the frame, a bracket mounted on the frame, a gear wheel journaled on the bracket and connected to drive the traction Wheels, a cage fulcrumed on the bracket coaXially with said gear wheel, a transmission gearing journaled in said cage comprising a pair of friction gear wheels and having constant driving connection with said bracket gear wheel, a motor mounted on the frame and adapted to having drivingengagement with either or neither` of said friction gear wheels, a lever fulcrumed on the frame and connected to aetuate the cage, and a cutter mechanism having independent driving connection with the motor, substan tially as set forth.

5. In a power` driven mower the combination of a frame, traction and steering wheels supporting the frame, a shaft journaled in the frame and having pinions in driving en gagement with said traction wheels, a compensating gear mounted on said shaft, a

saidbracket mounted on the frame, a pinion journaled on said bracket and meshing with said compensating gear, a cage fulcrumed 0n the bracket, a transmission gearing comprising a pair of friction gears journaled in the cage and having constant engagement with said bracket pinion, a motor mounted n 6. In a power driven mower the combina` tion of a frame, traction and steering wheels supporting the frame, gear wheels journaled on the frame,and connected to drive the traction wheels, a cage swingingly mounted on the frame, a transmission gearing comprising two friction gears journaled in said cage and having driving connection with said gear wheels, a motor mounted on the frame and adapted to have driving engagement with either of said friction gears, a lever fulcrumed on the frame, a rod connecting said lever and the swinging cage, devices associated with said lever for holding either or neither of said friction gears in driving connectionwith the motor, and a cutter/mechanism having independent driving connection with the motor, substantiallyas set forth.

7. In a power driven mower the combination of a frame, traction and steering wheels supporting the frame, a motor mounted on thev frame, a gearing train mounted on the frame operable for driving the traction wheels in either direction from the motor and comprising a transmission gearing j ournaled in a swinging cage, a lever fulcrumed on the frame, a rod connecting the lever with said cage, springs carried by the rod engaging with the lever on either side thereof and providing a` resilient connection therebetween, and lugs on the-frame for holding the lever in neutral and operative positions,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington, District of Columbia, this fifth day of December, A. D. nineteen hundred and fourteen;

p SAMUEL EDWARD BEELER. [L. S.]

Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, E. G. CLnMEN'rs. 

